Two Mountain Home men have been arrested for breaking into a residence, assaulting a victim and having a gun fire during a scuffle. Twenty-nine-year-old Blake Alan Arvay and 20-year-old Bryce Wilson Riggan are facing multiple charges including aggravated residential burglary which is a class Y felony, the most serious crime in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Mountain Home Police Department, the victim reported two men wearing bandanas over their faces entered his residence shortly after midnight Wednesday morning and attacked him. He fought one of the men who had a gun which went off during the scuffle, but did not strike anyone. The victim was hurt during the altercation, suffering injuries ribs and head. During a search of the room, shrapnel from a bullet was found.
The victim told investigators even though the two men wore bandanas, he recognized Arvay, but did not recognize the other man whom he said appeared to be between 18 and 20 years old. He said Arvay told him to keep his name out of his mouth.
During the investigation, it was learned a friend of the victim had been assaulted earlier that evening at his apartment. That victim told investigators two men wearing bandanas entered his apartment and physically assaulted him. He recognized Arvay but not the other man. He said during the encounter, the other suspect’s bandana fell off, revealing “peach fuzz type facial hair.” That victim reported several sports jerseys were stolen during the incident.
Both victims reported Arvay had been getting out of control with his drinking and drugs and they were trying to distance themselves from him. Text messages earlier this week between the first victim and Arvay showed they were not happy with him and they wanted him to leave them alone. The victims say this is the probable reason for the assaults.
Police learned during the investigation Arvay showed up at Riggan’s apartment Tuesday evening making plans to assault the first victim. Arvay said the victim had been running his mouth. A witness who was there agreed to drive the two because Arvay and Riggan were very intoxicated and he was sober. After they left the first victim’s apartment, Arvay wanted to go to the second victim’s residence, but the witness refused and dropped them back off at Riggan’s apartment. He remembered some items that had been stolen from the victim’s apartment.
Another witness came forward the next day saying Arvay wanted help getting his pistol back to a friend, but that witness said he wanted no part of that.
Search warrants were executed at the apartments of Arvay and Riggan. A gun suspected to be the one used in one of the incidents and multiple of pieces of evidence were collected.
Both Arvay and Riggan are facing felony charges of aggravated residential burglary, residential burglary, aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of third degree battery and theft of property. Arvay also faces a felony charge of possession of a firearm by certain persons meaning he is a convicted felon. Both are being held in the Baxter County Detention Center with bond set at $100,000 cash only for each.
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